Something's missing...oh yeah FLOWERS!

[Ray]

Aaron, if you ignore your plants more, they might very well bloom for you, but I'd guess they won't, and if they did it would be in the dying throes of their desperate attempt to carry on the gene pool.

You said earlier (much earlier - sorry or taking so long to respond) that you alternate between high N and high-P fertilizers mixed at about 1/16th teaspoon per gallon, used as misting a couple times a day. - and now you're going to cut back. I think you have actually been starving your plants.

What are the brands and formulas of those fertilizers? Up here in the northeast, where the PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) level is a lot lower than down there, I use 125 ppm N (the equivalent of one teaspoon per gallon of a 10% N formula) at every watering. Down there - especially for vandaceous plants - you can likely go a fair amount higher to provide good nutrition.

Secondly, the excessive application of nitrogen, when not balanced with the other minerals, can prevent flowering, and while I doubt that's a significant factor in your case - starvation is a more likely culprit - it's something to keep in mind.

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[susiep]

Starvation, now? Aaron, you have been reported to the Department of Orchid Services! Expect a knock on the door anytime!

[JennS]

All of you guys are just too funny!! I keep bursting out in laughter and I think I am drawing suspicion from my co-workers.

Aaron, if you are still curious about what kind of house to build for your orchids then I have a solution! I just got to visit another member this weekend (also in Orlando) and she has the perfect setup. She has lots of pictures too. Let me know if you are interested and I will give you her name. I hate to get all serious on this post, but couldn't help it!

Now, back to the humor....

[AaronM]

Ray,
The two fertilizers I use are both from Better-Gro and are 20-14-13 and 11-35-15. Both instruct me to give the plants 1tsp per gallon once a month. I don't know how many parts per million I have been using. I had a hard time figuring it out. The first problem was counting out a million water molecules onto a microscope slide. Then after two weeks of that I found that the fertilizer molecules kept moving around in the water. So I tried freezing the whole deal so they would hold still but then my eye froze onto the reticle and the fire department had to use the jaws of life to free me and now I have no microscope. Is there an easier way to figure out PPM?
As to the starvation theory, I try to give my orchids plenty of food but because of their self esteem issue they don't want anything but cigarettes and altoids (I think it's called the Kate Moss diet). I think I am going to have to cancel my subscriptions to American Orchid and Playorchid. My poor plants don't seem to comprehend the concept of airbrushing.

Oh and Al, don't mistake bribery for blackmail. I am not afraid to admit that my friendship is for sale. I'm a "gigopal" and proud of it.

Thanks all,
Aaron "The Orchid Whisperer" M

[shakkai]

Aaron, There is a calculator that Ray provides on his website:
Fertilizer PPM Calculator

Based on your 20-14-13 that would result in the following if you used the whole teaspoon:

264 ppm Nitrogen, 75 ppm Phosphorus, 153 ppm Potassium and a total of 492 ppm TDS.

With 1/16th of a teaspoon, you're feeding:

16 ppm Nitrogen, 5 ppm Phosphorus, 9 ppm Potassium and a total of 30 ppm TDS.

[Bird Song Farm]

Originally Posted by AaronM

Oh and Al, don't mistake bribery for blackmail. I am not afraid to admit that my friendship is for sale. I'm a "gigopal" and proud of it.

Sorry Aaron, I'm old and not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree.
Al

[Ray]

Shakkai, don't forget the other ingredients!

For example, the MSU Pure Water formula (13-3-15) which I use at about 3/4 tsp/gal gives 129 ppm N, 13 ppm P, and 123 ppm K, for a "total" of 265 ppm. BUT, in actuality, the TDS of the total solution is closer to 700-800 ppm thanks to all of the other ingredients.

[newflasker]

Hi Ray,
I am using MSU Pure Water formula (13-3-15). I want to use metric for easy to measure so how many gram do I need to prepare 1 liter solution with 129 ppm N. Thanks.

[AaronM]

Wait a minute shakkai. Do you mean to tell me that I spent two weeks counting out water molecules for nothing?!
Well with Ray's super easy PPM calculator I can now figure out my PPM. Now the big question is what's the target number? Keep in mind that I mist many of my plants daily and have a few that I only spray with fertilizer once a week.
I feel that I may be getting closer to having a flower or two. If nothing else, I will soon have a much healthier collection of leaves and pseudobulbs. Eventually I will be able to make divisions for friends which they will then throw in the bushes where they will flower profusely.
And Al, I've been reading your posts for months and have seen no sign signs that you're a dim bulb. Also, I would settle for anything on the "Ultimate Orchid Collection" list (see thread).

Thanks all.

Aaron "The Orchid Whisperer" M

[susiep]

Aaron, I feel we are all being to hard on you. I would like to personally apologize for teasing you. I also have some plants with no flowers. Would you like to see some pictures?